Preferred resource selector

ABSTRACT

A computer implemented method, and computer program product for requesting resources. The computer receives an assignment of an Internet protocol address. The computer compares a computer context of a client computer with an intranet access criterion to form a comparison result. The computer selects at least one preferred uniform resource identifier based on the comparison result, indicating the intranet is accessible. The computer transmits a request to a server using at least one preferred uniform resource identifier using a packet network.

This application claims benefit of priority of patent application Ser.No. 12/723,121, filed on Mar. 12, 2010, which is herein incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to a computer implementedmethod, data processing system, and computer program product forresource location. More specifically, the present invention relates toselecting among preferred resources, for example, websites, based on anetworking environment.

Packet networks have formed a core feature to computer communicationsduring recent decades. Packet networks are computing environments thatuse a computer to break a continuous stream of data into smaller unitscalled packets. A packet comprises two parts. First, the payload is theactual data, which is a subset of the original data stream. Second, thepacket may comprise a header, which includes, for example, addressinginformation concerning at least the destination of the packet. Thepackets are dispatched to a network of routers and links in a mannerthat permits each packet to take a differing route than the packets sentahead of it.

A recent trend in the computer industry is to shift employees to usemobile computers as opposed to desktop computers. This trend results ina user employing a computer in both an office setting as well as withina home setting. While a user is employing a computer within a network ofoffice computers or intranet, a domain administrator may assign thecomputer an Internet Protocol (IP) address within a range of IPaddresses. An IP address may be according to the Internet Protocolversion 4 (IPv4) or Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) standards havingat least 32 bits. An intranet or Internet protocol address is an IPaddress selected from among a range of IP addresses, where the range isa set number of 32-bit or larger addresses. Specifically, the domainadministrator assigns IP addresses within the range with which thenetwork is configured to operate. In other words, the intranet IPaddress, used when a computer is on the business network, is an addressissued within an intranet, for example, a Virtual Private Network (VPN).A VPN is a packet network that is either not connected to the Internet,or an Internet connection is regulated by a firewall.

A user operating within the VPN is allowed access to a number of serversbeyond the firewall. These servers typically are inaccessible throughthe intranet because the firewall will exclude traffic unless suchtraffic is authorized according to the VPN. A side effect of thiscircumstance is that a user who has taken a mobile computer outside theintranet may have difficulties when opening a browser to use a preferredresource, particularly when the preferred resource is a server on theintranet. Normally such a resource is located using a Domain NameService (DNS) operated within the firewall in a manner to look up acorresponding IP address. Importantly, the IP address may only beavailable to computers operating within the firewall. Accordingly, abrowser invoked on a mobile computer may not be able to locate theserver. For the user to access promptly the Internet resources, the useris required to type a reachable resource into the browser address field,or otherwise select a resource to interact with through the browser.

An intranet may have additional flexibility through the operation of afirewall. A firewall operates as a control point that binds the intranetto a larger network, for example, the Internet. The firewall inspectspackets to determine first whether to admit the packet across anintranet/Internet boundary. Secondly, the firewall may route the packetto an appropriate link, possibly changing packet addresses along theway. Some firewalls are equipped to authenticate nodes located outsidethe intranet in a manner that those nodes so authenticated are permittedto send packets across the intranet/Internet boundary. An intranetconfigured to admit traffic from authenticated sources is a VPN. A VPNserver process operates on the firewall, while a VPN client executes onthe remote computer.

A method and apparatus to overcome these deficiencies is desirable.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present invention provides a computer implemented method, andcomputer program product for requesting resources. The computer receivesan assignment of an Internet protocol address. The computer compares acomputer context of a client computer with an intranet access criterionto form a comparison result. The computer selects at least one preferreduniform resource identifier, based on the comparison result, indicatingthe intranet is accessible. The computer transmits a request to a serverusing at least one preferred uniform resource identifier using a packetnetwork.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are setforth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well asa preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, willbest be understood by reference to the following detailed description ofan illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a data processing system in accordance withan illustrative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2A is a block diagram of a mobile computer operating within afirewall in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2B is a block diagram of a mobile computer operating outside of thefirewall in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a data structure of client preferences in accordance with anexemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for browser configuration in accordance with anexemplary embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for selecting a resource in accordance with anexemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference now to the figures and in particular with reference toFIG. 1, a block diagram of a data processing system is shown in whichaspects of an illustrative embodiment may be implemented. Dataprocessing system 100 is an example of a computer, in which code orinstructions implementing the processes of the present invention may belocated. In the depicted example, data processing system 100 employs ahub architecture including a north bridge and memory controller hub(NB/MCH) 102 and a south bridge and input/output (I/O) controller hub(SB/ICH) 104. Processor 106, main memory 108, and graphics processor 110connect to north bridge and memory controller hub 102. Graphicsprocessor 110 may connect to the NB/MCH through an accelerated graphicsport (AGP), for example.

In the depicted example, local area network (LAN) adapter 112 connectsto south bridge and I/O controller hub 104 and audio adapter 116,keyboard and mouse adapter 120, modem 122, read only memory (ROM) 124,hard disk drive (HDD) 126, CD-ROM drive 130, universal serial bus (USB)ports and other communications ports 132, and PCI/PCIe devices 134connect to south bridge and I/O controller hub 104 through bus 138 andbus 140. PCI/PCIe devices may include, for example, Ethernet adapters,add-in cards, and PC cards for notebook computers. PCI uses a card buscontroller, while PCIe does not. ROM 124 may be, for example, a flashbinary input/output system (BIOS). Hard disk drive 126 and CD-ROM drive130 may use, for example, an integrated drive electronics (IDE) orserial advanced technology attachment (SATA) interface. A super I/O(SIO) device 136 may be connected to south bridge and I/O controller hub104.

An operating system runs on processor 106, and coordinates and providescontrol of various components within data processing system 100 inFIG. 1. The operating system may be a commercially available operatingsystem such as Microsoft® Windows® XP. Microsoft and Windows aretrademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States, othercountries, or both. An object oriented programming system, such as theJava™ programming system, may run in conjunction with the operatingsystem and provides calls to the operating system from Java™ programs orapplications executing on data processing system 100. Java™ is atrademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States, othercountries, or both.

Instructions for the operating system, the object-oriented programmingsystem, and applications or programs are located on storage devices,such as hard disk drive 126, and may be loaded into main memory 108 forexecution by processor 106. The processes of the present invention canbe performed by processor 106 using computer implemented instructions,which may be located in a memory such as, for example, main memory 108,read only memory 124, or in one or more peripheral devices.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the hardware inFIG. 1 may vary depending on the implementation. Other internal hardwareor peripheral devices, such as flash memory, equivalent non-volatilememory, and the like, may be used in addition to or in place of thehardware depicted in FIG. 1. In addition, the processes of theillustrative embodiments may be applied to a multiprocessor dataprocessing system.

In some illustrative examples, data processing system 100 may be apersonal digital assistant (PDA), which is configured with flash memoryto provide non-volatile memory for storing operating system files and/oruser-generated data. A bus system may be comprised of one or more buses,such as a system bus, an I/O bus, and a PCI bus. Of course, the bussystem may be implemented using any type of communications fabric orarchitecture that provides for a transfer of data between differentcomponents or devices attached to the fabric or architecture. Acommunication unit may include one or more devices used to transmit andreceive data, such as a modem or a network adapter. A memory may be, forexample, main memory 108 or a cache such as found in north bridge andmemory controller hub 102. A processing unit may include one or moreprocessors or CPUs. The depicted example in FIG. 1 is not meant to implyarchitectural limitations. For example, data processing system 100 alsomay be a tablet computer, laptop computer, or telephone device inaddition to taking the form of a PDA.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the present invention has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Theembodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and the practical application, and to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentinvention may be embodied as a system, method, or computer programproduct. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the formof an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may allgenerally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.”Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of acomputer program product embodied in one or more computer readablemedium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readablestorage medium. A computer readable storage medium may be, for example,but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical or semiconductorsystem, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of thecomputer readable storage medium would include the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), anoptical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitablecombination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, acomputer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that canstore a program for use by or in connection with an instructionexecution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless,wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination ofthe foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent invention may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional proceduralprogramming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similarprogramming languages. Java is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. inthe United States, other countries, or both. The program code mayexecute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer,as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer andpartly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer orserver. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected tothe user's computer through any type of network, including a local areanetwork (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may bemade to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using anInternet Service Provider).

Aspects of the present invention are described below with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus toproduce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to causea series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, otherprogrammable apparatus or other devices to produce a computerimplemented process such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

One or more embodiments may start a browser session by investigating thecomputer context within which the client computer operates. A computercontext is environment information suggestive of the location of thecomputer within a computer network. By ‘location’ it is meant that thecomputer is present at a position within a topology of networkedcomputers, including, for example, routers. Using the computer context,the browser may determine that an intranet is available in addition tothe normal Internet servers. Accordingly, attendant with rendering auser's preferred web pages, operated by preferred servers, the clientmay access an intranet server when the computer context indicates anintranet access criterion is satisfied. Alternatively, the client mayrender a secondarily preferred web page operated outside an intranet,when the computer context (of the client) indicates that the client isunable to access intranet resources. An outcome to such browserbehavior, is that a user may be shielded from a server-not-found errorand other resource availability issues, which the browser can detect,such as a lack of a suitable computer context to access a user-preferredserver and/or resource.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram of a mobile computer operating within afirewall in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention.Client 204 is a mobile computer that is attached to an intranet, whereinthe intranet permits access to a resource, for example a resourceaccessed by a domain name such as example.com 207.

A uniform resource identifier (URI) is a string of characters used toidentify a name or a resource on a network. A uniform resourceidentifier may be a uniform resource locator (URL) or a uniform resourcename (URN) as described further in RFC 3305, The Internet Society(2002), as hereby incorporated by reference. Examples given herein of auniform resource locator may be used interchangeably with a URN or a URIto construct illustrative embodiments. Similarly, a preferred uniformresource identifier is an identifier that a user indicates is preferredor rated higher than other URIs, for example, for purposes of a clientfirst rendering the preferred URI among other URIs.

Client 204 may be, for example, data processing system 100 of FIG. 1.Client 204 may reference a computer context when determining whether todisplay and render resources such as example.com and Google.com. Thecomputer context may be stored to memory of client 204 or non-volatilestorage. A computer context can include an IP address such as 192.1.2.3201. A computer context can include, for example, a running process. Arunning process is a sequence of computer instructions assigned tooperate on a computer and are actually executing on the computer. Arunning process can include, for example, Firefox.exe 202 or taskmgr.exe203.

Client 204 may use network 205 to connect to example.com 207. Client 204may rely on a computer context, for example, assigned intranet IPaddress 201 or running process 203, in order to select which among theresources to access through a browser. The browser may be, for example,an executing application for retrieving, presenting, and traversinginformation resources on the World Wide Web. Accordingly, client 204,while within firewall 261, may preferentially select a resource withinthe firewall such as example.com 207. Such a selection may be made inpreference over a user-preferred resource that is located outside thefirewall, for example, Google.com 209. Resources 207 and 209 may beservers implemented each by a data processing system according to dataprocessing system 100 of FIG. 1, above. A preferred resource is a serveraddressable by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), which a user hasdesignated as a target for rendering when a browser is directed to opena home web page or pages. The preferred resource can be a specific filestored in a server that a corresponding browser client renders inpriority over any other resource. The preferred resource can be, forexample, a primary tabbed view occupying the majority of a browser'sscreen area.

FIG. 2B is a block diagram of a mobile computer operating outside of thefirewall in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention.One example where a user operates outside a firewall includes when auser takes client 204 in a briefcase home from work. At home, the clientmay be booted up and run on a local network, which is external tointranet 271. Accordingly, packets exchanged between the client and aserver referenced by example.com traverse network 205, firewall 261 andintranet 271. Client 204 is now located outside the firewall 261. Client204 may use network 205 to connect to Google.com 209. In this example,Google.com is a partial URL that is disambiguated by a browser to locatea specific server or server group. Conversely, client 204 may not beable to reach a resource such as one referenced by example.com 207without the use of a VPN client. A VPN client is a process indicatingaccess to an intranet by way, for example, of a tunnel. A processindicating access to the intranet via virtual private network is aprocess used to tunnel through a firewall to reach access to intranetresources. A VPN client is available from several commercial sourcesincluding Netclient provided by AT&T™ and OpenVPN™. OpenVPN is atrademark of OpenVPN Technologies, Inc.

In the example of FIG. 2B, client 204 is running a process callednetclient.exe. That client is recorded to a list of running processesstored, for example, as “netclient.exe” 253. Accordingly, when client204 is running netclient.exe 253, the client may be able to accessresource example.com 207. In response to a computer user invoking client204 to run a browser, the client 204 may select resource 207 inpreference over resource Google.com 209. Consequently, while the clientis running netclient.exe 253 the client is able to access resourceswithin firewall 261 and such resources are accessed by default wheninvoking a browser running on client 204.

FIG. 3 is a data structure of client preferences in accordance with anexemplary embodiment of the invention. Data structure 300 includesstorage for identifiers, for example, intranet IP address range 301, aVPN client, for example, netclient.exe 303, a preferred uniform resourcelocator (URL) example.com 305, and a secondary preferred uniformresource locator Google.com 307. An intranet IP address is one or moreaddresses that are within a network or sub-network where the network iseither independent of the Internet, or protected from unregulatedtraffic traversing the Internet. An administrator of intranet 271 mayallow only a limited range of IP addresses to be assigned to computersthat attach within the intranet. Such addresses may be assigned by aDynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server to each computer addedto a network. Accordingly, when recording the intranet IP addresses, auser or an administrator may select a range as shown in block 301, whichcorresponds to allowable IP addresses of a business or other intranetwhere a client and/or user of the client is authorized. When a computerattaches to a network from beyond the firewall, such as depicted in FIG.2B, a DHCP server may assign an Internet protocol address. An assignmentof an IP address is a packet sent from a server to a computer that hasbeen attached to the network. The packet indicates the IP address thatthe attached computer is to use when functioning on the network.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for browser configuration in accordance with anexemplary embodiment of the invention. Initially, a user may interactwith a browser application to indicate that the browser is to becustomized or configured to the preferences of the user. Accordingly,the browser displays the browser configuration user interface (step401). The browser configuration user interface may provide fields for auser to enter information corresponding to the data structure 300 ofFIG. 3. Consequently, the client may receive intranet IP address rangefrom the user (step 403). Next, the client may receive a VPN client namefrom the user (step 405). Next, the client may receive a primarypreferred resource locator from the user (step 407). A preferredresource locator is a uniform resource identifier. The primary preferredresource locator can be, for example, a world-wide-web addressincluding, for example, an Internet Corporation for Assigned Names andNumbers (ICANN) coordinated domain name or an Internet Assigned NumbersAuthority (IRNA) Internet protocol address.

A Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is a string of characters used toidentify a resource reachable over a packet network. A preferred uniformresource locator is a uniform resource locator previously selected by auser. The preferred URL can be of a resource located within an intranet.A secondary preferred URL can be a URL of a resource positioned outsidean intranet. Next, the client computer may receive a secondary preferredURL from the user (step 409). The client computer may then store theintranet IP address range; VPN process name, primary preferred URL; andsecondary preferred URL (step 411). Processing terminates thereafter.

The intranet IP address range or the presence of a VPN client may beused to form an intranet access criterion for the client computer. Anintranet access criterion can be a match between a running process and aprocess indicating access to the intranet via a VPN. Specifically, therunning process can be a VPN client executing in the client computer. Anintranet access criterion can be a match between the IP address and anintranet IP address. In this second version of an intranet accesscriterion, the IP address is an Internet protocol address assigned tothe client computer, for example, in response to the client computerattaching to a network. An intranet accessible indication is anindication of the status of matching based on the intranet accesscriterion. Accordingly, the client computer may indicate a status ofintranet accessible when the intranet access criterion is satisfied.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for selecting a resource in accordance with anexemplary embodiment of the invention. Initially, a browser may beinvoked on the client computer (step 501). Next, the client computer mayreceive an IP address assignment (step 503). An IP address may beprovided by a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server, or beadded to the client computer by a user. Next, the client computer maydetermine whether the client's IP address is in the intranet IP addressrange (step 505). In determining whether the client's IP address is inthe intranet IP address range, the client determines a match between theIP address of the client and IP addresses corresponding to the intranet,that is, the intranet IP address range, thus forming a comparisonresult. The comparison result can be a match or a failure to match,depending on the intranet access criterion used. The intranet IP addressrange may be as specified at step 403 of FIG. 4 or as shown in datastructure 301 of FIG. 3. A positive determination at step 505 may causethe client computer to request the primary preferred URL (step 509).

On the other hand, a negative determination at step 505 may cause theclient computer to determine if the VPN client is running (step 517).The negative determination can be because of a comparison result thatindicates no match for the intranet access criterion. For example, aclient computer that implements step 517 may determine the existingprocesses while running a Linux® operating system. Linux is a registeredtrademark of Linus Torvalds in the United States, other countries, orboth. Accordingly, the determination may be performed with the ‘ps’, acommand to report a snapshot of the current processes. Processing maysubsequently skip to a request of a secondary preferred URL (step 521).

A positive determination at step 507 is suggestive that the computercontext is amenable to intranet access. Accordingly, the client computermay request the primary preferred URL (step 509). Thus, a second form ofcomparison result may be the outcome determined when executing step 507.Accordingly, the processes executing on the client computer may producecomparison results of “match” or “no match” in relation to the presenceor absence of a VPN client, as may be stored to VPN client 303 of datastructure 300 in FIG. 3. Such an identifier, in this example, is matchedamong currently running processes of the client computer.

Next, the client computer may determine whether the primary preferredURL responds with a HyperText Markup Language (HTML) page (step 511). Apositive result may cause the client computer to render the primarypreferred URL (step 531). However, a negative result may cause theclient computer to determine whether a timeout has expired (step 513).The client computer may make a negative determination at step 511 if aserver responds with a HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) responsemessage in the range of 400s or 500s, as explained in Request ForComments (RFC) 2616, The Internet Society (1999), hereby incorporated byreference. The HTTP response can include a server-not-found error, forexample, a response carrying the number 404 as a response code. Step 513can include a step of starting a timeout clock running by, for example,storing a system time, then, repeatedly comparing a re-iterated check ofsystem time to the stored time until the difference in such values isgreater than a timeout value. A timeout or timeout clock is thecombination of stored time progression combined with periodic checkingthe time references to determine if an elapsed period exceeds athreshold. While the result to step 513 is negative, the client computermay repeatedly check to see if the primary preferred URL, or the serverassociated with the primary preferred URL, responds with HTML, asdepicted at step 511. The HTTP timeout period may be selected at atimescale that is a reasonable period for a server to respond to arequest, yet is short enough that a second request may be made to asecondary preferred URL and obtain a HTML response quickly enough to notarouse suspicions by the user that a server failure to respond hasoccurred.

However, a positive determination of an expired HTTP timeout may causethe client computer to request a secondary preferred URL (step 521).Steps 521 and 509 may be performed by transmitting a request over apacket network, for example, network 205 or intranet 271 of FIG. 2B. Arequest is one or more packets sent across a packet network requestingaccess to a resource. A request can be for example, a hypertexttransport protocol request. A request can be, for example, a filetransfer protocol request. Step 521 may also be performed by the clientcomputer in response to a negative outcome at step 517. The secondarypreferred URL may be associated with a second server. The second servermay respond with a web page or other Internet-mediated data, including astatus-line in the range of 200s. In response, the client computer mayrender the secondary preferred URL (step 551). Processing terminatesthereafter.

The illustrative embodiments permit a user to select a primary preferredURL and a secondary preferred URL. Such URLs may be used as a home pagefor a user who moves a client computer from an intranet environment tonetworking environments outside the intranet. Accordingly, the clientcomputer may respond to a browser invocation by selecting a primarypreferred URL where the computer context suggests that the computer canaccess a server identified by the primary preferred URL. Alternatively,client computer implemented according to one or more exemplaryembodiments may select a secondary preferred URL in response to acomputer context that suggests that the primary preferred URL is notreachable by a packet network that the client computer relies upon. Someembodiments may permit the client computer to skip rendering aserver-not-found error when a primary preferred URL is the target of aresource request, and such a request fails to produce a response withina timeout period.

Alternative embodiments may include omission of one or more steps, forexample step 513. Accordingly, step 513 may be skipped in cases where aconclusive response is received that indicates a server is unavailableor that a particularly referenced file is not present on the server. Insuch a case, a test for time-outs can be unnecessary. In which case,such an alternative embodiment may promptly request a secondarypreferred URL by performing machine instructions that implement step521.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof code, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be notedthat, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in theblock may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, twoblocks shown in succession may, in fact be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, andcombinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-basedsystems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations ofspecial purpose hardware and computer instructions.

The invention can take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, anentirely software embodiment or an embodiment containing both hardwareand software elements. In a preferred embodiment, the invention isimplemented in software, which includes but is not limited to firmware,resident software, microcode, etc.

Furthermore, the invention can take the form of a computer programproduct accessible from a computer-usable or computer-readable mediumproviding program code for use by or in connection with a computer orany instruction execution system. For the purposes of this description,a computer-usable or computer readable medium can be any tangibleapparatus that can store the program for use by or in connection withthe instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

A data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing programcode will include at least one processor coupled directly or indirectlyto memory elements through a system bus. The memory elements can includelocal memory employed during actual execution of the program code, bulkstorage, and cache memories, which provide temporary storage of at leastsome program code in order to reduce the number of times code must beretrieved from bulk storage during execution.

Input/output or I/O devices (including but not limited to keyboards,displays, pointing devices, etc.) can be coupled to the system eitherdirectly or through intervening I/O controllers.

Network adapters may also be coupled to the system to enable the dataprocessing system to become coupled to other data processing systems orremote printers or storage devices through intervening private or publicnetworks. Modems, cable modem and Ethernet cards are just a few of thecurrently available types of network adapters.

The description of the present invention has been presented for purposesof illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Theembodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention, the practical application, and to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for requesting resources, the methodcomprising: a computer selecting at least one preferred uniform resourceidentifier; the computer transmitting a request to a server using the atleast one preferred uniform resource identifier using a packet network;the computer running a timeout clock, in response to the computer firsttransmitting the request; the computer determining that a timeoutexpired prior to receiving a response responsive to the request; and thecomputer second transmitting a second request to a server not in anintranet, and the transmitting is responsive to the computer determiningthat the timeout expired.
 2. A computer program product for requestingresources, the computer program product comprising: a non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium having computer readable program codestored therewith, the computer readable program code comprising:computer readable program code configured to receive an assignment of anInternet protocol address to a client computer; computer readableprogram code configured to compare a computer context of the clientcomputer with an intranet access criterion to form a comparison result,wherein the computer context comprises the Internet protocol address andthe intranet access criterion comprises a match between the Internetprotocol address and an intranet Internet protocol address; computerreadable program code configured to select at least one preferreduniform resource identifier based on the comparison result indicatingintranet accessible; computer readable program code configured to firsttransmit a request to a server using the at least one preferred uniformresource identifier using a packet network; computer readable programcode configured to run a timeout clock, in response to firsttransmitting the request; computer readable program code configured todetermine that a timeout expired prior to receiving a responseresponsive to the request; and computer readable program code to secondtransmit a second request to a server not in an intranet responsive to adetermination that the timeout has expired.
 3. A data processing systemclaim, for requesting resources, the data processing system comprising:a hardware processor, a computer readable memory and a computer readabletangible storage device; program instructions to receive an assignmentof an Internet protocol address to a client computer; programinstructions to compare a computer context of the client computer withan intranet access criterion to form a comparison result, wherein thecomputer context comprises the Internet protocol address and theintranet access criterion comprises a match between the Internetprotocol address and an intranet Internet protocol address; programinstructions to select at least one preferred uniform resourceidentifier based on the comparison result indicating intranetaccessible; program instructions to first transmit a request to a serverusing the at least one preferred uniform resource identifier using apacket network; program instructions to run a timeout clock, in responseto first transmitting the request; program instructions to determinethat a timeout expired prior to receiving a response responsive to therequest; and program instructions to second transmit a second request toa server not in an intranet responsive to a determination that thetimeout has expired.